Many Americans were shocked the first time they watched MTV’s
America's Best Dance Crew and Asian Americans: Interview With Travis Wong
By Brielle Nikaido
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009 CONDUCIVE
Brielle Nikaido: What was your experience like working for America's Best Dance Crew?
Travis Wong: Working on America’s Best Dance Crew was an incredible opportunity. It meant a lot because I was a fan of the show before being hired. I was able to be a part of the episode’s development from its original martial arts episode pitch to MTV. I worked with my friend Steve Terada from the dance crew, Quest Crew, in selecting the styles and moves to represent them, and worked with the crews on their choreography while staying true to their martial art assignment. The production crew and the other people who work on the show are truly amazing and made my experience memorable.
Brielle Nikaido: Can you walk us through your dance experience? What dance crews have you been on?
Travis Wong: My martial arts career shaped my dance career. The Tony Tee Dance Company recruited me in 2005 to help instruct some of their students in basic martial arts and to add a flare to their choreography for an upcoming show. So I took classes with their international academy. They had an exchange college program for dancers in Japan to come and take classes and be exposed to the industry. Within a few months, I was performing with the crew and doing old school styles such as locking. Eventually, I headed to Japan to perform and workshop with the company. After returning from Japan, I wanted to further my own style and practice several different styles from locking, popping, and robotin.
After graduating from University of California Santa Barbara in 2008, I focused on my stunt career and martial arts training in martial arts and parkour/freerunning style everyday. At the beginning of 2009, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to dancer Chris Scott, who reignited my desire to practice dancing and told me that my skills would be valuable within the industry. Within months, he and director Jon Chu gave me the opportunity to be a character in the original series The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, which will be released later this year. Elite dancers from different genres perform and Jon Chu's script explains the origins of each dance.
Brielle Nikaido: How has dancing shaped your career path? Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Travis Wong: I had originally believed I would only be successful as a stuntman, doing martial arts, or parkour in commercials and film. After recovering from knee surgery several months ago, I had the opportunity to be a dance coordinator. I worked on America's Best Dance Crew Season 4, as a martial arts coordinator for Episode 3, which was the first ever martial arts challenge on the show. Thanks to choreographer Jamal Sims and Chris Scott I also helped choreograph a piece for Miley Cyrus' upcoming tour where I was able to incorporate martial arts into her show.
In ten years my goal is to continue to create martial arts movements into dance as a coordinator and choreographer, become a successful stuntman and hopefully open my second gym.
Brielle Nikaido: What Asian or Asian American actors did you identify with growing up?
Travis Wong: Growing up there were too few Asian actors or actresses for me to really identify with. The industry offers limited roles for Asian actors. I was definitely a fan of Ernie Reyes Jr. featured in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Surf Ninjas. He was a martial artist who is entertaining as well as legitimately skilled. With the exception of Reyes, martial artists and other mainstream actors and actresses who weren't Asian influenced me.
Brielle Nikaido: How will the Asian American presence on reality television dance shows influence Asian American opportunities in dance, acting, and other media fields?
Travis Wong: The growing presence of Asian Americans on reality television dance shows is helping to break the stereotypes often associated with abilities and talents that Asians were previously recognized for. While we have most often been associated for using our brains and academics, a growing number of successful Asian American dancers and crews prove that Asians can be a force to be reckoned with in the physical fields as well. In the first few seasons of America’s Best Dance Crew alone, most crowd favorites and champions were predominantly Asian American. Now commercials, advertisements, promos, feature these Asian American champions.
While the Asian American presence grows on reality television dance shows, it unfortunately won’t have much effect on some other industry opportunities, such as leading roles for Asian Americans. We don’t have enough roles written for Asian American actors which don’t include martial arts or some sort of stunt based activity. Some exceptions are some recent movies as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which one could argue just further advanced the stereotype of Asians and import cars and tuning.
There are still very few leading Asian American actors, especially when it comes to serious or dramatic roles. Actors like John Cho are given leading roles in comedies; however, I rarely see a leading Asian American man play a romantic or traditional hero role. I have seen more Asian Americans featured when the overall cast needs to look racially diverse.
Brielle Nikaido: How do you feel about Dell casting you because they thought you looked like Bruce Lee? Do you think casting agencies have hired you in the past to fulfill a token or racial quota?
Travis Wong: I don’t mind being cast because I resembled Bruce Lee at all. In fact, hopefully, one day I’ll be fortunate enough to play a role resembling him. I guess I’ve come to terms with the fact that the industry is highly based upon images and I attempt to represent as best as possible. Most group shots that try to show diversity usually consist of an all white cast and a few scattered minorities. The Dell commercial was one of the first shoots I had been on where I felt they tried to represent true diversity. The cast had two other Asian Americans, two African Americans, and two Latin Americans.
Brielle Nikaido: Has being multiethnic influenced your career?
Travis Wong: Being multiethnic has been a blessing at times, while at other times I'm sure it may have worked against me. In general though I feel blessed being able to relate with both Chinese and Japanese cultures and still go on auditions for both. Because of my multiethnic appearance I sometimes have an ambiguous look on camera. I have been cast as Latino, Hawaiian, and Filipino, in addition to Chinese and Japanese.
Brielle Nikaido: On week four of American’s Best Dance Crew Lil Mama made this comment to Leiomy Maldonada, a transgendered crew member of Vogue Evolution: "You were born a man and you are becoming a woman. If you're going to become a woman, act like a lady." What was your reaction to this?
Travis Wong: I was in the audience that week and you could tell there was an obvious feeling of tension and awkwardness in the studio. However, I don't have a judgment towards her comment because I know she was in the moment and was just making a comment about the video package displayed. I believe that they talked after she made the comment and have cleared up some differences. Beyond that, I'll just leave what happened between them and what was aired on television. I can say that Leiomy was a wonder to work with and I applaud her work in the dance community.
Brielle Nikaido: This season on America's Best Dance Crew, a number of dance crews are using the stage as a tool to promote social and political awareness. Vogue Evolution is the first openly gay crew. Their aim is "to educate others on AIDS/HIV awareness." Artistry in Motion is an all-female crew of self-proclaimed feminists "trying to break the stereotype of bootyshakers." What are your thoughts on this trend?
Travis Wong: This season of America’s Best Dance Crew received a lot of criticism from the fans and viewers who complained that it wasn’t as exciting as previous seasons. I think that this could be because the audience is not as aware of different styles that aren’t blatantly hip hop or breakdancing. With the success of previous crews, such as the Jabbawockeez, Super Cr3w, and Quest Crew, America became used to seeing these two styles performed skillfully. Because of their success, and the introduction of the new crews and new styles this season the audience does not know what to expect.
It is awesome how so many different crews this season are exposing their culture and new dance styles. AfroBorike has brought in partnering, Beat Ya Feet brought DC footwork to the forefront, and Southern Movement showed that hip hop doesn’t just exist in Los Angeles or New York.
Crews as Vogue Evolution show the world a style of dance up and coming in the underground scene and educate about their community and HIV/AIDS awareness. They take full advantage of having millions of viewers every week. I am proud of them and support their courage. They show through their dancing that they are a force to be reckoned with and aren’t looking for votes out of pity or sympathy.
It boggles my mind to see how Rhythm City from NY has scored in the bottom two in America’s Best Dance Crew several times, as they are what you would consider a traditional hip hop crew that combines elements of popping, locking, grooving, krumping and breaking. Seeing that they were in the bottom, however, shows how new emerging styles are getting noticed and actually making a difference.
Brielle Nikaido: How was working with Miley Cyrus dancers?
Travis Wong: I was brought in to help choreograph part of a number for Miley’s upcoming 2009 tour. It was an amazing opportunity and I am grateful to choreographer Jamal Sims, who worked on Step Up 3, for taking a chance on a weaponry idea and running with it. I must also thank Christopher Scott for helping me gain this opportunity. He was the one that gave Sims the idea to using my weaponry skills for one of Miley’s encore numbers. We combined his unique style of popping, with techniques from the whip chain which I competed with for years. Together we put together what I believe to be one of the first of it’s kind to her single “See You Again.” Fans will be able to see it in her upcoming tour which just kicked off...And I couldn’t be more excited.
Brielle Nikaido: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career? What advice would you give to other aspiring dancers?
Travis Wong: One that I hold true to my heart is to pursue your dreams. This doesn’t mean to just dream of being a great dancer, or of making it big in the industry one day, but to do everything in your power and means to better yourself, become better at your craft, and to become better known within the industry. I know tons of people who constantly train and go on auditions. The most successful ones I see are those who continue to take classes despite their skill level, practice at hours when most people are asleep, go to all auditions despite the pay, and are willing to take a risk, whether it be financially or just stepping out of their comfort zone.
I would also advise people to stay true to themselves and maintain their integrity. Never lower your morals or standards for a job because you think it will further your career. Another opportunity may come along soon where you wont be asked to compromise. You must market yourself as best as you can, but you need to be honest about your skills and your skill level.
Then you need to make solid connections and friendships. It is no secret that connections can make all the difference in the world. However, introducing yourself and exchanging business cards with every important person you meet won’t help you achieve your goals or help you advance. People will help those they consider to be truly worthy and who are not simply looking for a handout, only to turn their back on them down the road when they are in a position to possibly help. I am proud and fortunate to say that I love the opportunity to work with my friends, people that I don’t just see on auditions or on set, but those that I would call to spend time with. While I’m sure everyone has said it at some point in their career, I truly will not forget anyone that has helped me in any way along my path. If it takes me my entire life to return the favor, I will.
TRAVIS WONG 2009 TEMPORARY ACTION REEL from Travis Wong on Vimeo.
Travis Wong is a former nationally ranked forms and weapons competitor. His parents, Master Douglas L. Wong and Sifu Carrie Ogawa-Wong, are renowned marital artists who have trained a number of actors like Jason Scott Lee, Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, and Ryan Gosling. By fourteen, Wong was inducted into the “Inside Kung Fu: Hall of Fame.” Since then, he has used his martial arts background to further his parkour and freerunning skills.
Brielle Nikaido is an Associate Editor and Media Director at Conducive
Copyright ©2009 Conducive. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission from CONDUCIVEMAG.COM
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